Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate potential association between the presence of T2DM the distribution of CD4/CD8-defined subpopulations within NKT-like cells, as well as correlation between glucose concentration and the distribution of NKT-like subpopulations, in order to find potential mechanisms which can lead to impaired immune response in T2DM via modification of NKT-like cell subpopulation profile. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and type 2 diabetes mellitus.